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General welder (arc processes)

General welder (arc processes)

Key information

Reference: ST0349
Date updated: 30/05/2024
Level: 2
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Regulated occupation: No

This is not the latest approved version of this apprenticeship. View the latest version

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

Welding is a way to make high strength joints between two or more parts. General Welders use high electrical energy to form an arc. Manual dexterity is essential in controlling the arc, which is used to melt metals, allowing them to fuse together to form a structurally sound weld. Welding is used extensively and in almost every sector of industry. There is a high demand for skilled General Welders in areas such as: automotive, marine, transport, general fabrication, construction and many more. General Welders produce items like components for cars; ships; rail vehicles; simple metallic containers; and steelwork for bridges, buildings and gantries. Welding is a safety critical occupation and every welder takes responsibility for the quality and accuracy of their work. General Welders are required to produce joints that satisfy basic quality standards in order to ensure that the finished products function correctly, contributing to the safety of all and the global quality of life. Skilled, qualified, professionally certified General Welders can work anywhere in the world and provide services in harshest of environments. For these accomplished professionals, the monetary rewards can be significant. There is a highly complex range of welding skills: the different arc welding processes require different levels of manual dexterity, knowledge and skill to avoid making defective welds. There are a wide range of metallic materials that can be welded, each with different properties and behaviours.

Typical job titles include:

general welder

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Be aware of the basic mechanical properties and weldability of welded materials Back to Duty

K2: Understand the common arc welding processes, joint types (fillet, lap, butt, etc.) and positions Back to Duty

K3: Understand the major components of welding equipment and the essential parameters for welding Back to Duty

K4: Understand the terminology, operation and controls for the selected arc welding processes, joint types and welding positions Back to Duty

K5: Identify and understand the causes of typical welding defects and how their occurrence can be reduced, for the materials and welding processes selected Back to Duty

K6: Understand the functions of welding consumables and the requirements for correct storage and handling Back to Duty

K7: Be able to identify and select correct welding consumables for each application Back to Duty

K8: Understand and identify hazards and basic health, safety and quality requirements when welding Back to Duty

K9: Know how to interpret and work to a welding procedure specification Back to Duty

K10: Know the basics of welding quality documents and reporting systems Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Produce good quality welds using two welding process/material type combinations (TIG, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW) and (Carbon and Low Alloy steel, High Alloy Ferritic/Martensitic Steel, Austenitic Stainless Steel, Nickel and Nickel Alloys, Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys) in two welding positions (Downhand, Horizontal, Vertical, Overhead) Back to Duty

S2: Attain a qualification in accordance with one of the following standards: ISO 9606 / ASME IX / BS4872 / AWS D1.1, determined by the employer. N.B. These qualifications are regarded as licences to practice in welding Back to Duty

S3: Achieve a quality of work to meet international standards for dimensional and surface inspection (Visual, Magnetic, Particle Inspection and Dye Penetrant Inspection) Back to Duty

S4: Position, prepare and check the welding equipment Back to Duty

S5: Receive, handle and maintain consumables Back to Duty

S6: Prepare, check and protect materials and work area ready for welding Back to Duty

S7: Complete and check the finished weld ready for inspection and report into the production control system Back to Duty

S8: Ensure that health and safety requirements are fully accounted for in all the above Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: A questioning attitude, to understand the processes and associated industrial applications. Maintaining competence with a commitment to Continuing Professional Development Back to Duty

B2: Planning and preparation to ensure production and Continuing Professional Development goals are achieved Back to Duty

B3: Intervention, to challenge poor practices and channel feedback to the appropriate authorities to implement change Back to Duty

B4: Reliability and dependability to consistently deliver expectations in production, quality, work ethics and self-development Back to Duty

B5: Accountability, to follow the specified procedures and controls and be personally responsible for their production work and personal development Back to Duty

City & Guilds Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Engineering (Diploma)

Qualification type: TQ

Qualification level: 2

Awarding organisation: City and Guilds of London Institute

Approval date: 23/05/2024

Occupational pathway: Maintenance, Production Engineering (Manufacturing), Fabrication & Welding

Qualification category: Occupational entry technical qualifications

Age range: 16-19 and adults

Work placement: No

Aligned occupational standards

ST0349 General welder (arc processes)

ST0537 Engineering operative

Options: Engineering Operatives Working Within a Maintenance Role , Engineering Operatives Working Within a Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering Role , Engineering Operatives Working Within an Electrical & Electronic Engineering Role , Engineering Operatives Working Within a Fabrication Role , Engineering Operatives Working Within a Materials, Processing or Finishing Role , Engineering Operatives Working Within a Technical Support Role

End-point assessment (EPA plan)

Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard

End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)

An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations

Holistic or synoptic

Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)

What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard

Valid

Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose

Change request policy

Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:

the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has

The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.

Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.

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